A Visit to the Shoenberg Arid House

It might have been a cool, wet spring so far, but things are hot and dry down at Missouri Botanical Garden. Hot as in “arid,” unlike the typical St. Louis Summer known for its stifling heat and humidity. The new Shoenberg Arid House uses a computerized climate control system to maintain year-round temperatures mimicking the arid regions reflected by the plants displayed. Over 1,500 unique taxa representing landscapes in Africa, West Asia, and the Americas are displayed in ecoregions throughout the 8,900-square-foot conservatory.

Desert willow, *Chilopsis linearis* ‘Sweet Bubba’

The newly designed space showcases MBG’s extensive 150-year collection of cacti and succulents, which have been in hiding since the closure of the old Desert House in 1994. On display for the first time anywhere in the world, Karomia gigas is one of the world’s rarest trees, with fewer than 50 left in the wild.

American Century Plant, *Agave americana*

Plants that thrive in hot and dry arid environments develop unique adaptations to survive, resulting in sometimes bizarre and outrageous forms. These adaptations are fascinating not only to scientists, researchers, botanists, and plant geeks but also to artists and photographers.

The Shoenberg Arid House, which opened in 1990, was formerly known as the Shoenberg Temperate House. The central Moorish walled garden and fountain remain, as does the impressive portico from St. Leo’s School, which towers over the Moorish Garden, visitors, and the newly displayed plants that now call the space home.

The Shoenberg Arid House is located just north of the Climatron.